Diverter valve



y 27, 1952 M. o. THRUSH 2,598,148

DIVERTER VALVE Filed July 28, 1948 FIG.1

FIG. 2 28 INVENTOR.

FIG-.3 -M.O. THRUSH AT TORNEY Patented May 27, 1952 DIVERJTER VALVE Marquis 0. Thrush, Peru, Ind., assignor to H. A. Thrush & Company, Peru, Ind a corporation of Indiana Application July 28, 1948, Serial No. 41,157-

2 Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchange systems of the character employing a fluid as a heat transmitting agent or vehicle. The invention is particularly applicable to a heat exchange systear. in which it is desired to selectively direct the heating medium into a heat exchanger andto control the amount of fluid so directed.

The invention is specifically directed to an adjustable supply T located in a line through which the heat transmitting vehicle or fluid passes to the portion of the system where the temperature is desired to :be controlled, and is a modification of Patent No. 2,404,996 of August 1, 1946.

Heretofore in heat exchange systems in which the heat exchange medium is diverted from. a supply line to individual units as in the above mentioned patent, the valve by means of which the heat exchange medium is directed into the heat exchange unit contained gaskets or other sealing elements. Frequently these have been unsatisfactory and subject to criticism from viewpoints of efficiency and durability. The questions of expense of manufacture, simplicity of assembly, installation and operation, and other similar factors are likewise important.

It an object of the invention toprovide an improved adjustable supply T for use between the supply line of a heat exchange system and each branch or unit thereof by means of which the direction of flow of heating fluid may be simply and accurately controlled or completely shut ofi without possibility of leakage or necessity of replacing any parts for an indefinite period.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable supply T of simple and inexpensive construction requiring no special skill or equipment to install, can be readily taken apart or assembled, and is susceptible of simple and convenient adjustment by the general public.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bronze adjustable supply T, the main body of which is an inexpensive casting on which few machine operations are required, with the connection between the operating handle and the valve yieldably mounted in contact under surficient tension to prevent leakage but permitting the necessary rotative adjustment thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device con structed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section. on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and.

Fig. 3, an exploded view of the several parts of the valve exclusive of its housing.

With continued reference to the drawings, the

adjustable supply T of the present invention comprises a valve body it of bronze or other desirable material, cast or otherwise produced. The body or housing is provided with a horizontal passage or borev H adapted to form part of the supply line of a heat exchange system and having inlet and outlet connections l2 and I3 respectively. As stated, the body is of bronze or the like and is adapted to be used with copper or pipes of a similar character, not shown. The housing It is further providedv with a vertical branch or connection it disposed at right angles to the supply line and through which the heating medium may be diverted into a suitable heat exchanger, not shown. The housing or T is also provided with a transversely disposed cylindrical bore which intersects the longitudinal horizontal bore at substantially right angles thereto and forms a valve chamber l5 communicating with both the bore l I and the branch connection or passage 14-. An enlarged annular portion I6 is provided, surrounding the entrance to the valve chamber t5, internally screw threaded as at I! and having an annular recess [8 for the reception of the hexagonal head I9 of a closure plug 29 which is externally screw threaded as at 2! for engagement within the threaded portion I! of the entrance to the valve chamber. The recess i8 is of greater diameter than the threaded portion H and, as will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 2 of the drawing, the inner wall of said recess acts as a stop to limit the inward movement of the closure plug.

The closure plug 29 is provided on theouter face thereof with an annular groove or recess 22 and further with a centrally located conical tapered passage or bore 23 adapted for the reception of the complementarily tapered shank or stem 24' of a valve member 24. A disc-like-portion 25 is integrally formed upon the valve stem and carries thereon an arcuate deflector valve 26 of suflicient width to close the entrance to the branch passage l4, when the valve is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

An operating handle or lever 2'! is mounted upon the outer extremity of the valve stem 24, in any desired manner. Preferably this lever; which terminatesin a pointedindicatingfinger 23;, provided with anaperture through which the valve stem passes, ther being diametrically opposed recesses 29 on th periphery of this aperture for the reception of the extremities of a locking pin or the like 30 designed to pass through a suitable aperture 3| provided in the valve stem adjacent the outer extremity thereof.

Any suitable means may be employed to insure the snug engagement of the valve stem within the tapered bore of the closure plug. ferred embodiment thereof comprises a coil spring 32 adapted to fit within the recess 22 provided in the outer face of the closure plug and adapted to bear against the irmer surface of the operating lever, forcing said lever against th extremities of the pin 30. This spring is of sulficient length and tension that the compression thereof, occasioned by the assembly of the valve stem and lever and the installation of the looking pin, will insure adequate frictional engagement between valve and plug.

An indicating dial 33 is provided, marked with appropriate legends to visually indicate the condition of the valve with respect to the branch passage l4. Preferably stop pins 34 are mounted upon this dial to limit the rotative movement of the lever 21. If desired, the pins 34 may extend through the dial 33, terminating in reduced portions 35 adapted to be seated within properly aligned apertures (not shown) provided in the outer face of the annular portion 16 of the valve housing. Such an arrangement insures proper alignment of indicating dial, housing and valve.

One form of indicating dial has been disclosed showing the indicia Branch, Open, and Closed. It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that proper installation places the lower extremity of the operating lever 21 between the stop pins 34, where the word Branch appears. With the lever in extreme vertical position the indicator points to Closed and the arcuate defiector valve 26 is so positioned as to prevent ingress of heating fluid into the branch passage l4. With the lever then rotated counterclockwise to substantially horizontal position, the finger 28 will indicate Open, there being an intermediate arrow showing a partially open position. In open position a portion of the arcuate deflector valve will extend into the path of movement of heating fluid which will thus be directed a into the branch passage.

The tapered engagement between valve stem and closure plug compensates for any frictional wear, eliminates the necessity for the provision of a gasket or other packing material, and eflec- It will be obvious to those skilled in the art' that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable supply T for a fluid flow system comprising a valve body, a passage through said body, a second passage joining the first, a substantially cylindrical valve chamber intersecting said passages and having its axis located above the axis of the first passage, a removable A pre-' closure member in said valve body disposed axially of said valve chamber and having an outwardly tapered axial passage therethrough, said member being provided with an annular seating depression about said opening on the exterior surface thereof, a rotary valve in said chamber of a length substantially corresponding to the length of said chamber and with a transverse curvature substantially corresponding to the curvature of the chamber, said valve having a mounting portion in the form of a disc connected and disposed at right angles to its curved portion and of a diameter substantially correspondingv to the diameter of the valve chamber so that pressure of fluid within said valve chamber will tend to urge said disc toward the corresponding end of the valve chamber, a valve stem fixedly attached to said disc and extending through said removable member and provided with an outwardly tapered portion complementary to said axial passage in said removable member, an operating member having an annular portion provided with opposed recesses and adapted to fit over the outer end of said stem, the outer end portion of said stem being provided with a transverse bore and a removable pin extending therethrough and seating in said recesses for maintaining operative relationship between said operating member and said stem, and spring means seated in said annular depression and bearing against said operating member, the pressure exerted by said spring and by the fluid on said disc maintaining the tapered portion of said valve stem in firmly seating contact with the tapered passage in said closure member.

2. An adjustable supply T for a fluid flow system comprising a valve body, a passage through said body, a second passage joining the first, a substantially cylindrical valve chamber intersecting said passages and having its axis located above the axis of the first passage, a removable closure member in said valve body disposed axially of said valve chamber and having an outwardly tapered axial passage therethrough, said member being provided with an annular seating depression about said opening on the exterior surface thereof, a rotary valve in said chamber of a length substantially corresponding to the length of said chamber and with a transverse curvature substantially corresponding to the curvature of the chamber, said valve having a mounting portion in the form of a disc connected and disposed at right angles to its curved portion and of a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the valve chamber so that pressure of fluid within said valve chamber will tend to urge said disc toward the corresponding end of the valve chamber, a valve stem fixedly attached to said disc and extending through said removable member and provided with an outwardly tapered portion complementary to said axial passage in said removable member, an operating member detachably connected to the outer end of said stem, and spring means seated in said annular depression and bearing against said operating member, the pressure exerted by said spring and by the fluid on said disc maintaining the tapered portion of said valve stem in firmly seating contact with the tapered passage in said closure member.

MARQUIS O. THRUSH.

(References on following page) 5 REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 13761745 file of this patent: $23 333 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,994,336 Number Name Date 2,404,996

477,392 Weber June 21, 1892 1,076,466 Thomas Oct. 21, 1913 1,110,731 Walp Sept. 15, 1914 Number 1,256,215 Eycleshymer Feb. 12, 1918 10 19,620 1,283,469 Clas Nov, 5, 1918 507,878

Name Date Crawford May 3, 1921 Hutchinson July 18, 1922 Brown Oct. 18, 1927 Dawson Mar. 12, 1935 Thrush July 30, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France of 1914 Great Britain of 1939 

